“I can't really say change has a defining moment; it happens gradually and then you take a step back and realize...wow I did that. I changed.”
.
Today’s chameleon is Ashley, who admitted to suffering from low self-esteem, depression, and even some suicidal thoughts before her chameleon moment. “Life was miserable for me for a long time because of how I viewed myself,” she wrote to me. ”I didn't feel like I had a way to fit in.” Ashley experienced a huge change in mental health when she decided to start empathizing with other people and celebrating their lives, rather than focusing on harmful, self-depreciative thoughts. It was still difficult to stop comparing herself to others, but pushing herself to do this resulted in drastic changes to the love she has for herself. She found that life was so much better when it wasn’t all about her, which is an amazing, selfless thing to realize.
.
Sometimes it just takes a moment of recognizing harmful thoughts in yourself to lead to a huge change over time. You may be surprised who you find inside yourself ❤️
.
Thank you @pheonix_4436 for sharing your story with me, and thank you @redspantherchameleons for this stunning photo of a red Ambilobe Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis).
.
If you have a story about change you would like to share with me or with this community, please reach out to me (Kat)!
.
#ambilobe#ambilobepanther#ambilobepantherchameleon#furciferpardalis#chameleon#chameleonsofinstagram#chameleons#reptile#herpatology#reptilesofinstagram#newaccount#chameleonclub#thechameleonpatronus#change#adaptation#vulnerability#growth#evolution#chameleons_of_ig#chameleonlife#depression